Fishing with Swimbaits

Knowing the prey of the fish you’re targeting is important- for example largemouths love plastic worms but peacock bass won't touch them.  Blue crabs are like candy to tarpon but few other fish will strike them.  I mainly target tarpon, peacock bass, snook and largemouth bass- all fish that prey on smaller fish.  Having a lure that mimics these small baitfish is important to me.  Over the years I’ve tried almost every lure imaginable but keep coming back to one- the soft swimbait.  The swimbait is easy to rig, versatile and most importantly effective.  So sit back and enjoy a beginner’s introduction to swimbaits with a few tricks that some Certified Master Anglers might not even know!

First thing to consider is size- the length of your swimbait, type/size of your weight and the size of your hook. Swimbaits can range in size from 3" to over 6". While most people think the bigger the swimbait the bigger the fish you'll catch I've caught lunkers on small swimbaits. In my opinion it is more important to properly match the correct hook size and weight than the actual length of the swimbait. That being said, whether you're using a jig head, swim jig or a Texas Rig selecting the proper hook size and weight is very important. For weights a lot depends on the level of the water column you want to fish at- heavier the weight the deeper your bait will swim. However, the rule of thumb is to use a 1/4 to 1/2 ounce weight for regular sized swimbaits (3-4") and 1/2 to 1 ounce weights for larger swimbaits (5-6"+). As for hooks, I use 2/0 to 4/0 on regular swimbaits and 4/0 to 6/0 on large swimbaits.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider is color. You can find swimbaits in almost any color imaginable and most people follow the brightly colored lures in muddy or dark water and more subtle colors in clear water code. The problem is this is just a generalization. How I choose the color of my swimbait is easy- I look to imitate the prey of the fish I'm targeting. It’s also important to know your species and not be afraid to try new things. For example, tarpon love the color purple so if I'm targeting tarpon I'll use a big purple swimbait!

Presentation and technique depend on the depth of water you want to fish at. For shallow water (0-15 feet) you can either slow roll or jig. Slow and steady retrieval or the slow roll as I like to call it targets fish in the top 5 feet of water. Jigging or the jerk and reel technique is an effective way to change lure direction and/or speed. This technique allows you to pick the depth you fish at and all the jigs, jerks and pauses entice bites. To fish in deep water use a fast sinking weight with your swimbait. Cast out, let the swimbait reach the level of the water column you want to fish (you can even let it hit the bottom and fish real deep but watch out for weeds and rocks), then use a jigging technique to fish at your desired depth.

Now that we've covered the basics here are three more advanced tips for fishing with swimbaits. First, split their bellies. I'm sure many of you know this one already- especially if you love swimbaits as much as I do. Using a knife or razor (I use an exacto knife) simply cut the belly of the swimbait. The length of the cut depends more on hook size than anything- you want to easily be able to thread the hook through the split belly.  For depth, you want to cut deep but not all the way through the swimbait. Then hook the swimbait through its head like you normally would and finally stick the hook into the split belly for easy weedless rigging!

Second, those of you who know me know I always use super glue on my knots to strengthen them. Another reason to keep super glue in your tackle box is to glue swimbaits. We all know how annoying it is to have to remove weeds from your lure so the last thing you want to have to worry about is your swimbait sliding down the swim jig, jig head or hook- so why not super glue? Simply put a little super glue on the head of your swimbait and then glue it down! Now your swimbait is locked in place!

Finally, wacky rigging is a way to prolong the life of your swimbaits. While our love for fishing may be unconditional like any relationships there are certain things that drive us crazy. At the top of the list of every angler is losing lures. Nothing upsets an angler more than losing their favorite lure (other than maybe losing a fish). While I'm not here with some secret to never lose another lure I do have a tip for extending the life of your swimbait. Once your swimbait becomes wrecked, I'm talking FUBAR, cut off the paddle tail, re-hook it through the back and fish on!

So there you have it- swimbaits 101 with a few advanced tips. If you have any questions about swimbaits or anything else fishing or social media related please do not hesitate to ask!

Take care and tight lines!